Beneath the mask

eerily quiet. Elena stood in the grand foyer, her wedding gown still clinging to her l

comforting and unsettling. "Are you ready

only place she had ever known. Together, they walked to the waiting car, a s

ut the window, watching as the familiar streets of her childhood gave way to unfamiliar

The building was grand and elegant, but there was a coldness to it that made her

ings, marble floors, and dark, heavy furniture. Elena felt small

id, his voice breaking the silen

vast emptiness of the house. When they reached the second floor, Luca le

ed bedroom. The walls were a soft cream color, the furniture a mix of modern and antiqu

"It's beautiful," she said softly, though her heart a

ion unreadable. "If you need anything, ju

hesitated for a moment before turning and walkin

f the day pressed down on her, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had tried to be strong, to put

shoulders shaking with silent sobs. She didn't know how long she sat there, lost in

ld outside was quiet and still, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her. Sh

hts. She turned to see Luca standing in the doorwa

aid quietly, stepping into

ng a smile. "I'm fine," she

hers. "You don't have to pretend with me

n't know how to respond. "I just... I feel so lost

y brushing a tear from her cheek. "I know," he said softl

wanted to believe him, to trust that he would keep his promise. But t

ion serious. "Get some rest, E

a stood there for a moment, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. She didn

she had imagined. Maybe, together, they c